How to say “I’m trying to improve” in Spanish

Introduction

Learning how to express personal growth and self-improvement is an essential skill for Spanish learners. Whether you’re taking classes, working toward a professional goal, or simply trying to develop a new habit, knowing how to say you’re trying to improve in Spanish will help you communicate your intentions clearly and authentically. This comprehensive guide explores multiple ways to express this concept, from the most common phrases to more nuanced expressions that native speakers use in everyday conversations.

The Most Common Way: Estoy Intentando Mejorar

The most straightforward way to say you’re trying to improve in Spanish is Estoy intentando mejorar. This phrase breaks down into three simple components: estoy (I am), intentando (trying), and mejorar (to improve). This construction is perfect for beginners because it uses the present progressive tense, which directly mirrors English sentence structure.

When you use estoy intentando mejorar, you’re indicating an ongoing action that happens right now. This phrase works well in virtually any context, whether you’re talking to a friend, a coworker, or a language teacher. For example, if someone asks how your Spanish studies are progressing, you could respond with Estoy intentando mejorar cada día (I’m trying to improve every day), which adds a time reference that emphasizes your commitment.

Alternative Expressions with Tratar

Another popular way to express the same idea uses the verb tratar, which also means to try. The phrase Estoy tratando de mejorar is equally common and carries the same meaning as estoy intentando mejorar. Many native speakers use these two phrases interchangeably, so learning both gives you flexibility in conversation.

The difference between intentar and tratar is subtle. Intentar suggests you have a deliberate intention, while tratar implies you’re making an effort. In practice, both work perfectly fine, and native speakers don’t think much about which one they use. You might hear someone say Estoy tratando de mejorar mi pronunciación (I’m trying to improve my pronunciation) just as often as Estoy intentando mejorar mi pronunciación.

Using Procurar for a More Formal Approach

If you want to sound more formal or literary, consider the verb procurar, which means to try or to endeavor. The phrase Estoy procurando mejorar carries a slightly more serious or determined tone than the previous options. This expression works particularly well in professional settings or when discussing long-term personal development goals.

Procurar suggests not just trying, but actively working toward improvement with intention and determination. You might use this phrase when discussing your progress in a job interview or when writing a formal email to a mentor. For instance, Estoy procurando mejorar mis habilidades de liderazgo (I’m endeavoring to improve my leadership skills) sounds more professional than the other options.

Specific Areas of Improvement

To make your statement more meaningful, you can specify what area you’re trying to improve. This requires understanding how to structure these phrases with additional vocabulary. If you’re trying to improve your Spanish speaking skills, you would say Estoy intentando mejorar mi español or more specifically Estoy intentando mejorar mi pronunciación (I’m trying to improve my pronunciation).

Here are some common areas people try to improve, with examples:

For language skills: Estoy intentando mejorar mi gramática (I’m trying to improve my grammar), Estoy intentando mejorar mi vocabulario (I’m trying to improve my vocabulary), or Estoy intentando mejorar mi comprensión auditiva (I’m trying to improve my listening comprehension).

For professional skills: Estoy intentando mejorar mi escritura (I’m trying to improve my writing), Estoy intentando mejorar mis habilidades técnicas (I’m trying to improve my technical skills), or Estoy intentando mejorar mi comunicación (I’m trying to improve my communication).

For personal habits: Estoy intentando mejorar mi salud (I’m trying to improve my health), Estoy intentando mejorar mis hábitos de sueño (I’m trying to improve my sleep habits), or Estoy intentando mejorar mi postura (I’m trying to improve my posture).

Adding Time References and Frequency

Native Spanish speakers often enhance these phrases by adding when or how often they’re trying to improve. Combining your improvement statement with time expressions makes your communication more complete and natural. You can add phrases like cada día (every day), poco a poco (little by little), or constantemente (constantly).

Here are practical examples with time references: Estoy intentando mejorar cada día (I’m trying to improve every day), Estoy intentando mejorar poco a poco (I’m trying to improve little by little), or Estoy intentando mejorar constantemente (I’m constantly trying to improve).

You can also specify a timeframe, such as Estoy intentando mejorar durante estos tres meses (I’m trying to improve over these three months) or Estoy intentando mejorar esta semana (I’m trying to improve this week).

The Simple Present Tense Alternative

While the present progressive form is most common, Spanish learners should also know that you can express the same idea using the simple present tense. Intento mejorar (I try to improve) or Trato de mejorar (I try to improve) work just as well, though they sound slightly more general or habitual.

The simple present tense suggests an ongoing lifestyle or repeated action rather than something actively happening right now. For instance, Intento mejorar mi inglés might suggest that improving English is something you do regularly, while Estoy intentando mejorar mi inglés emphasizes that you’re actively engaged in that process at this moment.

Cultural Notes on Self-Improvement in Spanish-Speaking Contexts

Understanding cultural context helps you use these phrases appropriately. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, humility is valued, so people often express their self-improvement efforts modestly. When you say you’re trying to improve, you’re not boasting; rather, you’re demonstrating a commitment to personal development, which is generally respected.

Spanish speakers appreciate when learners acknowledge their efforts to improve language skills. Using these phrases shows respect for the language and culture. If you tell a Spanish speaker Estoy intentando mejorar mi español, they’ll likely respond positively and offer encouragement or help.

Common Responses You Might Receive

When you tell someone you’re trying to improve in Spanish, they might respond with encouragement. Common responses include Qué bien (That’s great), Sigue adelante (Keep going), or Lo estás haciendo bien (You’re doing well). Understanding these responses helps you continue your conversation naturally.

Someone might also ask follow-up questions like ¿En qué área estás intentando mejorar? (What area are you trying to improve?), which gives you an opportunity to use the specific vocabulary mentioned earlier in this guide.

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding, practice constructing these phrases in different scenarios. Try creating sentences about your own improvement goals. For example:

Say you want to express that you’re trying to improve your confidence in Spanish conversations. You might say: Estoy intentando mejorar mi confianza cuando hablo español (I’m trying to improve my confidence when I speak Spanish).

Or if you want to mention you’re improving your ability to understand movies in Spanish: Estoy tratando de mejorar mi capacidad de entender películas en español (I’m trying to improve my ability to understand Spanish movies).

Conclusion

Expressing that you’re trying to improve in Spanish is a practical and valuable skill for language learners at any level. Whether you choose estoy intentando mejorar, estoy tratando de mejorar, or estoy procurando mejorar, you now have multiple options to communicate your commitment to personal development. Remember that adding specific areas of improvement and time references makes your communication more natural and engaging. Practice these phrases regularly, and don’t hesitate to use them in real conversations with native Spanish speakers, who will appreciate your effort and dedication to improvement.